GLENDALE, CA – On Monday, August 26, Franklin Elementary hosted a Sustainability Celebration to highlight green initiatives happening across their campus. The event was attended by Glendale Unified Board of Education Members, Superintendent Vivian Ekchian, and district leadership, along with Glendale community leaders, parent leaders from the Franklin Green Team and Franklin PTA, and Franklin students and staff.

This year, Glendale Unified is piloting a program at Franklin to replace disposable plates with reusable lunchroom trays and utensils. This was a parent-led initiative, organized in collaboration with the Glendale Unified facilities and nutrition services departments and supported by a generous donation of a $25,000 commercial dishwasher from Hobart.

Other sustainability initiatives implemented over the past few years at Franklin include adding beautiful, drought-tolerant landscape, installing a reusable water bottle filling station, adding compost containers in the cafeteria, implementing "share-tables" to reduce food waste, and encouraging families to avoid using single-use lunch containers.

"Glendale Unified is committed to sustainability. We are so proud of our Franklin Elementary students, parents, and staff who are leading the way in making our world a cleaner, greener place for children to grow and thrive," said Glendale Unified Superintendent Vivian Ekchian.

"This is how change starts," said Franklin parent and Green Team leader Monica Campagna, "you try something and see if it works and then other people want to try it, too."

For further information, please contact Kristine Nam at (818) 241-3111 x1218 or knam@gusd.net.